Saving Yoda

We said we would rebuild Yoda and make a working, practical effects, puppet using the same techniques as we used to build the original… AND WE DID! The process continues, but here is the first prototype in action…

For information on charitable events and other appearances of Nick and Yoda, visit YodaLives.com

The original Indiegogo Saving Yoda appeal

About

Because loyal SW fans, everywhere, keep asking for a return to a practical FX, and Disney should have available a rebuilt Yoda puppet for any new movies that take place before Yoda’s death.

Because members of the team that built the original Yoda are the best people to recreate a duplicate.

Because fans feel that the digital yoda has lost the fun and charm and realism of the original puppet.

Because Frank Oz and his associate puppeteers did it better.

Because Disney probably won’t risk making another puppet after the unpopular version in A PHANTOM MENACE. But if one is ready built, and proven, they are much more likely to return to a practical Yoda.

Because nobody has ever explained how the original Yoda (and other classic SW characters) were constructed, and we want to tell those stories at SW conventions around the world, using virtual holograms of the SW personalities that created those characters, and raising money for charitable foundations.

But most of all…

Nick Maley, known internationally as “that Yoda Guy” because of his contribution to the creation of four original Yodas made for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is supervising this project to ensure that every detail of the original close-up puppets is adhered to.

A crew of professional sculptors, creature effects artists, and cosplay enthusiasts have volunteered their skills and facilities to create this duplicate of the original puppet Yoda.

If enough funds can be raised, Nick will ask other surviving members of the original Yoda crew to duplicate the elements of Yoda that they originally created.

and finally…

A duplicate animatronic close-up puppet constructed exactly as the original puppet was built, available for future SW movies.

An animatronic Yoda for display at conventions where donations raise funds for charitable foundations.

A virtual holographic exhibit of Star Wars veteran creature builders, discussing their part in the creation of the original Yoda, for display at conventions around the world, where donations raise funds for charitable foundations.

A radio controlled Yoda that duplicates the one in Luke’s backpack.

A display of the parts of the original Yoda puppets, demonstrating the manner in which they were created, for display at conventions where donations raise funds for charitable foundations.

Yoda FAQ

Q. Yoda is dead? Why build a duplicate?
A. Disney have announced at least two new “Anthology” movies that take place before Episode IV (when Yoda is alive) and more are likely to follow.

Q. Can you build a Yoda for me?
A. Sorry, No. That would be a copyright infringement. We can only build a puppet and offer it for use to the copyright holder or use it to raise money for non-profit causes, or use it for legitimate autobiographical purposes. We can not sell any Yoda that we make without a relevant license.

Q. Doesn’t your Yoda look younger than Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back?
A. There are two reasons for that…
(i) We are designing the new Yoda puppet to be available to Lucasfilm for future SW Anthology movies. Nobody knows what the storyline of those movies might be or when they might take place. So we deliberately minimized Yoda’s aging so that, if necessary, The puppet can be artworked to look 200-400 years younger.
(ii) Our photos are of a clay sculpture with no artwork. The original Yoda skins looked younger before artworking too. Nick Maley is a fine artist who’s artwork has hung in museums and galleries internationally, having toured the world with UNESCO. If he can paint an old face on a blank white canvas, he can certainly accentuate the modeling in our new sculpt to make it look much older. Our aim with this sculpt was to provide maximum possible variations to suit whatever story Lucasfilm might envisage.

Contributors

Nick Maley

Veteran Special Make-up and Creature Effects Designer who contributed to the Classic Star Wars trilogy, the Superman movies, Highlander, Krull, The Keep, The Shining and A Bridge Too Far.

Jörg Steegmüller

Jörg Steegmüller, Chef sculptor and CEO at Steegmueller Skulpturen, a sculpting, moulding, model making and animatronics facility in Stuttgart Germany providing animatronic figures to companies, movies and theme parks in Germany. The Steegmueller Skulpturen workshop will be utilized as a base workshop in Germany for the assembly of the duplicate Yoda and other figures destined for display in FXpo.

Wolf Brothers

Wolf Brothers are highly skilled costume builders and CosPlayers, renowned in Baveria, who regularly accompany Nick Maley to events in Nuremberg. Their legendary costumes are fabricated to the highest standards and their diverse skills are a great asset to the project. They are staunch supporters of FXpo and their workshops and skills will be utilized creating the Yoda display.

Susanne Spitz

Susanne Spitz is the designer behind Spitz Massdedign. Susanne is a central supporter of FXpo and a member of the Board of Advisors for the FYSF. Her skills and facilities as a costume and dress designer are another asset utilized in this project.

The Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit

The Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit includes Nick Maley’s home workshop in the Caribbean. The duplicate Yoda will be built in multiple locations. Started in England and Germany, the moulds will be completed in the Caribbean and the project will be masterminded and supervised from that location also.

Heike Steiger

Heike Steiger has been associated with FXpo since the first discussions of the project being assembled in Germany. She is the PR Officer for the SavingYoda campaign, a central consultant for FXpo and a member of the Board of Advisors for the FYSF. Whilst Heike will not be involved in building the duplicate Yoda, her efforts to publicize the project are central to achieving our goals.

John Schoonraad

John Schoonraad and his team at Lifecast in Elstree Studios, England. Lifecasting, animatronics and prosthetics for the motion picture industry.

Schwerthelm Ziehfreund

Schwerthelm Ziehfreund and his company MovieSFX, provide Special Effects for Film & TV from their base in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. They specialize in making Puppets, Dummies, Animatronics and SFX makeup and Prosthetics for any kind of Film, TV Productions or commercials. The MovieSFX workshop will moulding and foam latex and silicone facilities for the the duplicate Yoda and other figures destined for display in FXpo.